Who May Dwell with the LORD?

Psalms 15:1-5
A Psalm of David.

1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

2 He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;

3 He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the LORD;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

5 He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

Who can be in God’s presence, loving with Him?  This was David’s question to answer in this song to the LORD.  Who is worthy to remain in the temple of God on the hill of holiness where He is worshipped by sacrifice and prayer?  The answer begins with the one who lives an upright life according to His word as Job had done for an example.  This means that one listens to God’s word in the scriptures and does what they say according to their best effort of participation.  This applies to us as much now as then.  To be a God pleaser also means that we do not lie, but speak words from the heart of honesty and not deception.  Do we really say what is truth and what is kind?  Do we continue in seeking to do acts of righteousness in words and actions, even though we fail often?  This means we do not talk bad about others behind their backs or do mean things to them, either through dislike or revenge.  We are not to speak badly of friends, but are to keep our distance from the vile who continue in working ungodliness.  We honor those who seek to please God with godly fear and repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9-10) and pray for those who are opposed.  The psalmist also says that to be in God’s presence we are to swear to our own detriment, when required, to speak truly and lovingly.  We are not to change what we say to make ourselves look good or avoid personal exposure to our own sin.  We are to be steadfast in this.  Also, it is not good to seek excessive gain on lending to those in need, nor allow ourselves to be bribed to falsely accuse or convict another.  As it applies to we who are now in Christ, if we do all these things we will remain steadfast in God’s presence as we mature in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:58, 1 Peter 5:10).  In king David’s time, the Law required these actions to find life, but in Christ and His saving grace we are not saved by these works to earn our place in God’s presence, but by faith (Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9), and that standing leads us to do the right things as we have been prepared for (Ephesians 2:10).  But our conduct is pleasing to Him as we do these things from a regenerated heart and willing mind; we are obliged by this desire to be well-pleasing to Him in godliness with holiness, and to keep out sin which hinders that divine fellowship.  The one who does these things will not be moved!